Kialua (Oahu), Hawaii: Yamas Is All Greek To Me, But I liked it!

Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine
1020 Keolu Drive
Kailua, HI 96734
Phone number (808) 263-4075
Website: yamaskailua.com
Prices: $$$$

Good, fresh food and reasonable prices, but a bit heavy on the garlic, even for me. We ordered the baba ganoush ($7) with extra pita and it was OK, but the garlic overpowered the appetizer. 

The service was good even though they got hit with several tables (one six-top and one eight-top) all at once. The tables are all too small, so our party of four felt a bit claustrophobic at a table that would comfortably fit two, maybe three tops. We had to continually maneuver menus, bread plates, water glasses, and meals around to make everything fit and it was tiresome.

The strangest thing was that they do not have a bathroom, so women must use a key to access a public toilet about 100 feet away and men have to go across the parking lot to McDonalds. I did not need to use it, but hopefully you do not need to make a purchase to get the bathroom door code as is the case at McDonalds in many tourist areas.

I had the Gyro ($12), a lamb/beef combo on a soft, warm pita with tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber sauce), lettuce, sliced onion, and tomato. It came with a choice of (one) garlic fries, Greek salad, baba ganoush, hummus or a couple other things or you could choose any two of those for another $3, which was what I did. I got a basket of crispy, garlicky fries and a Greek side salad which had much more lettuce and far fewer olives, cucumber, and tomato than any other Greek salad I have had. It was decent, the gyro big and tasty, and the fries excellent. My wife had the Souvlaki, chunks of chicken on a pita with the same ingredients as my gyro, and it was also quite tasty.

For dessert, we decided to try their baklava, coming two big halves on a plate and some of the tastiest I have had. The pastry topping was light and crispy and the sweet filling a perfect blend of nuts, spices, and honey ... HOOAH!

CombatCritic Gives Yamas 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

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Title: Kialua (Oahu), Hawaii: Yamas Is All Greek To Me, But I liked it!

Key Words: Kialua, Oahu, Hawaii, Yamas, Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine, Mediterranean, cuisine, Greek, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook

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Hilo (Big Island), Hawaii: Hey Ricky ... I Love Lucy's!

Lucy’s Taqueria

194 Kilauea Avenue

Hilo, HI 96720

Phone number (808) 315-8246

Website: lucystaqueria.com

Prices: $$$$

I Love Lucy's! Solid Mexican food, based on the tacos, chips and margaritas, and a great value in a chain of islands that has no conscience when it comes to overcharging tourists and, worse yet, locals.

They first brought us a basket of chips and salsa, the chips made in house and warm, a good sign and good start, and the salsas were awesome, a rarity at most Mexican restaurants. We also ordered a large guacamole ($5.30) and Lucy's Basic Nachos ($6.60). The guacamole was excellent and well seasoned with none of the fillers (tomatoes, onion, etc.) you normally get at most places and the nacho chips topped with pinto beans, cilantro, diced onion, and a load of melted jack cheese. My wife got an orchata ($2.75) and I a margarita blended with salt ($4.50), both coming in pint size glasses and quite tasty for the price.

I had the Taqueria Tacos Plate ($9.65), coming with three 4" double wrapped street tacos (ground beef, carnitas, and el pastor - one each) with the traditional onion and cilantro on top and rice and beans on the side. The tortillas were soft, but grilled just enough to contain the contents and provide a little crispiness, and the meats all extremely flavorful. The rice and beans lacked seasoning, but I was so full that I could not eat much of them anyway. My wife got the Taqueria Tacos ala carte ($6.40), coming with three carnitas tacos similar to my own, so I will not embellish further.

I want to return and try their enchiladas, the true test of a real Mexican restaurant being their tacos and enchiladas. My only gripes are the fact that they only bring one basket of chips if eating in and getting table service and that they do not offer carne asada (steak) on the taqueria tacos. The basket of chips came with a cup of delicious salsa inside the basket, so we really only got half of a basket and additional baskets are apparently $4 according to the menu. As far as the steak is concerned, I asked if I could get carne asada on my tacos, but was told that I could not even though I would have been willing to pay a premium if need be. As we say in the Air Force - "flexibility is the key to Air Power".

The food is great, the service a bit less than perfect, and the prices very fair, but those two minor flaws kept Lucy's from receiving my highest rating and a spot on my "WALL OF FAME".

CombatCritic Gives Lucy's Taqueria 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

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Title: Hey Ricky ... I Love Lucy's!

Key Words: Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii, Lucy's Taqueria, Lucy's. Lucy, taqueria, taco, Mexican, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Hilo, Hawaii: Cafe 100 Is A 100% TravelValue

Cafe 100
969 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone number (808) 935-8683
Website: cafe100.com
Prices: $$$$

This fast food joint on the outskirts of downtown Hilo pumps out quality food at very reasonable prices to hundreds of customers a day. Their specialty is Loco Moco, scoops of white rice topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg, with other variations including spam, chili, and other savory options.

The service was very friendly and efficient. We placed our order at the window, grabbed a table in their covered patio, and waited 10-15 minutes to get our food (you can to eat there or take it home).

My wife ordered the Double Loco Moco Combo ($8.95), coming with two scoops of rice, two burger patties, brown gravy, and two eggs over-medium. It also came with a medium fountain drink and a cookie, but when our order arrived there was no cookie. I asked the lady at the window and she told me that she forgot to tell me they were out of cookies, but she had deducted $0.50 from the price. Fair enough. The Loco Moco was a hit with my better half and as they say ... "happy wife, happy life!".

I ordered the Bacon Cheesy Girl ($5.55), a double cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce and tomato, and a side o' fries ($2.85). The bun was fresh, the meat well cooked, and the bacon just right - a little chewy and a little crispy. It was a good burger, not a great one, and the fries were hot and crispy, not burnt, just the way they should be.

If you are hungry and on a budget, this is the place to go - great service, tasty food, large portions, and fair prices - BIG ISLAND, BIG VALUE ... HOOAH!!

CombatCritic Gives Cafe 100 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19 

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Read Chris S.'s review of Cafe 100 on Yelp

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

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Title: Hilo, Hawaii: Cafe 100 Is A 100% TravelValue

Key Words: Hilo, Hawaii, Cafe 100, cafe, 100, loco moco, loco, moco, fast, food, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu,  review, Yelp, Zomato, Google

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Hilo, Hawaii: Jose Can You See By Don's Early Light? If So, It Is Breakfast Time Amigo

Don’s Grill

485 Hinano Street

Hilo, HI 96720

Phone number (808) 935-9099

Website: donsgrillhilo.com

Prices: $$$$

A nondescript diner on a backstreet somewhere in Hilo, Don's Grill has decent service and fair prices, but is utterly unspectacular. The place has a vintage coffee shop motif with breakfast, lunch and dinner options served all day.

I asked our server for a list of beers, one of which was "Longboard", but when I asked if it was an IPA she looked at me and shrugged her shoulders, never offering to walk 20 feet to check. "I guess I will have the water", I said.

I had the Pork Cutlet Dinner ($13.75), two small, thin, cutlets breaded and fried and covered with brown gravy. It came with a very small salad and a roll fresh from a plastic bag. I had asked the server if they made their own mashed potatoes and she apologetically shook her head from side to side. "I guess I will have the fries", I said. The cutlets were extremely dry, making them difficult to cut even though they were very thin. The flavor was OK and the fries were hot, I will give them that, but the steamed carrot, broccoli and cauliflower medley was bland as all get out.

My wife ordered the Mushroom and Cheddar Omelette ($9.75), coming with hash browns and toast. When they say toast, they mean toast, because this is the only place I have ever seen that gives you just one piece of toast cut in half. The three egg omelette was actually cooked perfectly and there was plenty of mushrooms and cheese inside. The hash browns were plentiful and also perfectly cooked, a crispy golden brown on top and soft and warm on the inside.

Based on our experience, I would stick with the breakfast offerings if I were you. We filled the holes in our stomachs and neither got sick the next day nor paid an arm and a leg, so as George W. Bush famously said, "mission accomplished". 

CombatCritic Gives Don's Grill 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

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Title: Hilo, Hawaii: Jose Can You See By Don's Early Light? If So, It Is Breakfast Time Amigo

Key Words: Hilo, Hawaii, Don's Grill, Don's, Don, grill, breakfast, diner, coffee, shop, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google

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